Headlight



Oct. 3, 19379. R. R. Bos-nc 2,174,775

HEADLI GHT Filed DeC. 19, 1936 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. R, R. BOST I C.

ATTORNEY.

Oct. 3, 1.939. R. R. BosTlc 2,174,775

HEADLIGHT Filed Deo. 19, 195s 3 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. R.R.BO5T\C,

. R. BOSTIC HEADLIGHT Oct. 3, i939 Filed Deo. 19, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 tlnrunnll illlll INVENTOR. R. R,BO5T\C.

Patented Oct. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT orifice 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in headlights.

The general object of the .invention is to provide an improved headlight for use on vehicles 5Y such as automobiles and wherein the headlight is so constructed that ample and-complete illuminationis provided without dangerous glare.

A more specic ob-ject of the invention is to provide a headlight having novel reflector memlOi `bers so arranged that the lights are projected ahead and extend laterally 'but are not projected above a predetermined height.

Another 'object 'of the invention -is to provide a novel type of headlight which is particularly adapted for use on stream-:lined yautomobiles of the tear drop type'.

A further object of my invention is to provide a headlight including a yfilament .and a .reflector wherein the reflector is so constructed that it is directedV downwardly when .installed 'in use to provide horizontal and'inclined beams. j

Another object .of 'the invention is to provide a novel fender `headlight .for vehicles. l

An additional object Tof my invention is to provide a novel reiiector for headlights.

Other objects and the advantages of my invention will be app-arent from `the following description taken in connection'with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a fragmentary vertical section through a headlight embodying the features of my :in-

vention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section of the reiiector device taken on line 2-2 `of Fig. 1;'

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the reflector `device shown in Fig. 1 on a reduced scale;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective View of an automobile showing my improved headlights op eratively mounted thereon;

40 Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section through a modified form of headlight;

Fig. 6 is a front view of the reflector device shown in Fig. 5 on a reduced scale andwith portions of the collector reflectors broken away;

Fig. 7 is a top plan View of the reiiector device shown in Fig. 5 on a .reduced scale and =vvith portions of the collector reflectors broken away;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of a stream-lined automobile showing a modied form of headlight applied thereto;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side view of the device shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. l0 is a fragmentary vertical section through another modified form vof headlight;

Fig. ll is an enlarged fragmentary section of a portion of the reector shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. l2 is a fragmentary vertical section through a further lmodii'led form of headlight;

and 5;:

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary section of a portion of the reflector shown in Fig. 12.

This application is a continuation in part of my prior application Serial No. 11,825 led March 19, 1935, now Patent No. 2,064,880 granted 101 I'2. Asshown the autombile I2 includes front 15,:

fenders i3,a closed body I4 having atop portion l5 and a windshield I6. As shown the top l5 of the automobile includes an outer portion l'l and a ceiling portion `IB spaced vbelow the top portion I1. f 20 The device l0 is positioned in the top l5 of the autombile in 'the space between the outer portion Il and 'the ceiling portion 'I8 and adjacent the front of the automobile body. The automobile body Hl has an elongated aperture 25 119 therein'above the`wind Shield i6 which is closed by a glass .closure member '213.' The glass closure .member '2U may be secured to the body M Vin any desired manner as by rails and screws as indicated at 2 l. 3Q?.

' As shown vthe device lI'll includes va pair of spaced metal side plates 22 which adjacent their lower forward corners are pivoted as indicated at 23 to blocks 24 mounted `on the ceiling i8.

Between 'the `end plates 22 I provide a metal 35j.

reiiector member A25 which is elliptical in vertical cross section and which is rectilinear in longitudinal section. .At each end the reflector member 25 includes angular end walls 25 each of which include portions which are suitably secured 40` as by welding 'to Vthe 'adjacent end plate 22 as at 2l. Intermediate the length of the reflector member 25 I mount an electric bulb socket 23 in which'an electric light vbulb 29 is positioned.

The reflector25 being elliptical in cross section 45 rays from the bulb lament 39 which is located at one focus striking the reflector are convergently reflected to the other focus 3i which is shownas at the rear of the glass closure member 2i! as indicated by the dotted Ylines 32. light rays as shown cross at the line 3! and then pass through the glass closure 2d.

Extending from one end plate 2S to the other I provide a-co1lector reflector 35 which comprises a plurality of reectors or segments 36.

The 5o;

Each

of the segments 36 in cross section is a segment of an ellipse, one focus of the ellipse being located coincident with the filament 30 of the lamp and the other focus of the ellipse being coincident with a line 39 which is disposed substantially in the center` of the reflector 25 as shown in Fig. 1 so that light rays indicated by the broken lines 31 from the bulb focus 30 are reflected as indicated by the dotted lines 38 to the focus 39 on the reflector 25 which focus is substantially intermediate the height of the reector. The collector reflector 35 includes a flange portion 40 at each end which is suitably secured as by Welding to the end plates 26.

Below the reflector 35 I provide another collector reilector 4I which is like the reflector 35 and include a plurality of elliptical sections 42 which are shaped to reflect the rays from the bulb lament 30 back to the focus 39 on the reflector 25. The reflector 4I has a ange portion 43 at each end which is removably secured to the end plates 26 by bolts 44.

Thus it will be seen that the majority of the rays from the filament 3|) which do not originally strike the reflector 25 are eventually directed onto this reflector.

The inner faces of the angular end plates 26 are polished to form reflecting surfaces to reflect the rays from the filament 38 which strike them outwardly through the aperture I9.

The angle of the end plates 26 is shown as slightly over 45 relative to the longitudinal axis passing through the filament 30 so that the rays 45 from the bulb filament are reflected divergingly forward as indicated by the dotted lines 46 in varying degrees. That is, the rays striking the side plate farthest from the bulb will be reilected at a greater angle than the rays striking the end plates closer to the bulb. The rays striking the end plates closest to the bulb will preferab-ly be reflected directly forward. The plates 26 may be hyperbolic in longitudinal section with substantially the same result secured.

Mounted on the rear of the reflector 25 I provide a bracket member 41 on which a member 48 is pivotally mounted as indicated at 49. The member 48'includes a ball socket portion 50 in which a ball member 5I is positioned. The ball member 5| has a stem 52 thereon which extends downward into the drivers compartment of the automobile. The stem 52 includes a threaded portion 53 which is positioned in a similarly threaded block 54 mounted on the ceiling I8.

In the drivers compartment the stem 52 has an enlarged head 55 thereon. By rotating the stem 52, reflectors 25, 35 and 4I may be swung about the axis of the pivots 23 to change the angle of the projected light rays.

The ceiling I8 has an aperture 56 therein which is closed by a closure member 51 which includes a hinge member 58 adjacent each end which is pivotally mounted as at 59 to a block member 60 mounted on the ceiling I8. The closure member 51 further includes a suitable fastening member 6I to retain it in a closed position.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 I have shown a modification of my invention in a headlight indicated generally at 65. As shown the device 65 includes a housing member 86 having a curved forward wall 61 which has an elongated aperture 68 therein shown as closed by a transparent closure member 69.

Positioned in the housing 66 I provide a reflector member 10 which in transverse section is in the shape of an ellipse. At the center of the reflector 10 I provide an electric bulb socket 1I in which an electric light bulb 12 is removably positioned.

In longitudinal section the reector 10 is in the form of an ellipse so that when the bulb 12 is at one focus the light rays from the filament 13 striking the reflector will be convergently reflected to the other focus 14 which is at the rear of the closure member 69 as indicated by the dotted lines 15.

Above and below the reflected ray lines 15 I provide collector reflector members 16. Each of the collector reflectors extends from an end of the reflector 10 to the other and is outwardly curved toward the center. The reflectors 16 include segments 11 which are segments of ellipses and are shaped similar to the previously described collector reilectors 35 and 4I with one focus at the axis of the lament 13 and the other focus slightly in the rear of the reflector 10 so that they reilect rays from the bulb lament 13 back onto the reflector 10 as indicated at 11.

As shown the reflector 1I] has a lug 18 thereon which is pivotally mounted on a transverse rod 1S. Mounted on the rear of the reflector 10 I provide a bracket member on which a member BI is pivotally mounted as at 82. The member 8| includes a ball socket portion 83 in which a ball member 84 is positioned. The ball member 84 has a stem 85 thereon which includes a threaded portion 86 and a screw head 31. The threaded portion 86 of the stem is positioned in a similarly threaded aperture 88 in a transverse bar 89 and on each side of the bar has a lock nut 90 thereon. j

As shown in Fig. 4 the headlight 65 is preferably mounted in a suitable aperture 9| or recess 1|n the front fenders I3 of the automobile I2.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have indicated a substantially tear drop stream-lined automobile generally at and have shown headlight members 96 operatively installed therein. As shown I employ two upper headlights, two lower headlights and three intermediate headlights although the number and arrangement may be varied.

As shown each of the headlight members 96 includes a removable housing 91 which includes a front wall 98 shaped to conform to the shape of the automobile body. The front wall has an elongated aperture 99 therein which is closed by a transparent closure member |80 which like the front wall is shaped to conform to the shape of the automobile body. Positioned in the housing 91 I provide a reflector member IIlI which is shaped similar to the previously described reflector device 10.

In Figs. 10 and 11 I have indicated a modied form of reflector device generally at |65. As shown the device |05 is built similar to the device I9 and includes a reflector member |06 and an upper collector reflector member |01 and a lower collector reflector member |91. Intermediate its length the reflector |06 receives an electric bulb socket |08 in which an electric bulb |09 is positioned.

The reflector |06 is elliptical in transverse cross section so that when the bulb filament III) is at one focus the light rays from the lament striking the reflector will be convergently reflected to the other focus II2 as indicated by the dotted lines II3.

On the reflector |06 below the bulb |69 I provide a plurality of reflector surfaces which are indicated at I I4 and I I5 (see Fig. 11) The upper collector reflector |01 includes segments II6 which are segments of ellipses which are so shaped and placed that the light rays indicated by the broken lines I from the focus ||0 are reflected as indicated by the dotted lines ||8 onto the reflector set ||4 on the reflector |06.

The rays from each segment ||6 focus onto a different portion of the reflector surface of the reflector ||4. The reflector surfaces of the set ||4 are segments of such curvature and shape as to reflect the rays ||8 from the part ||6 onto the focus I 2 as indicated by the broken line H9.

The lower collector reflector |01 includes parts |20 which are segments of ellipses which are so shaped that the light rays indicated by the broken lines |2| from the bulb filament ||0 are reflected as indicated by the dotted lines |22 onto the reiiector set 5 on the reflector |06. The rays from the parts |20 focus onto a different reflector surface of the reector ||5. 'Ihe reector surfaces of the set |5 like those of the set ||4 are shaped to reflect the rays |22 from the parts |20 onto the focus |2 asindicated by the dotted lines |23.

In Figs. 12 and 13 I have indicated a modified form of reflector device generally at |25. As shown the device |25 is built similar to the device Iii and includes a reflector member |26 and an upper collector reflector member |21 and a lower collector reiiector member |21. Intermediate its length the reflector |26 receives an electric bulb socket |28 in which an electric bulb |29 is positioned.

The reflector |26 is elliptical in transverse cross section so that with the bulb filament |30 at one focus the light rays from the filament striking the reflector will be convergently reflected to the other focus |32 as indicated by the dotted lines |33.

On the reector |26 above and below the bulb |29 I provide a plurality of reector surfaces which are indicated at |34 and |35 (see Fig. 13). 'Ihe upper collector reflector |21 includes segments |36 which are segments of ellipses which are so shaped and placed that the light rays indicated by the broken lines |31 from the bulb filament |30 are reflected as indicated by the dotted lines |38 onto the reflector set 34 on the reiiector |26.

The rays from each segment |36 focus onto a diiferent portion of the reflector surface of the reflector 34. The reflector surfaces of the set |34 are segments of ellipses and are shaped to reflect the rays |38 from the part |36 onto the focus |32 as indicated by the dotted lines |39.

The lower collector reflector |21' includes parts |40 which are segments of ellipses which are so shaped that the light rays indicated by the broken lines |4| from the bulb filament |30 are reflected as indicated by the dotted lines |42 onto the refiector set |35 on the reflector |26. The rays from the parts |40 focus onto a different reiiector surface of the reflector |35, The reflector surfaces of the set |35 like those of the set |34 are segments of ellipses and are shaped to reflect the rays |42 from the parts |40 onto the focus |32 as indicated by the dotted lines |43.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have invented a novel headlight which is efficient in directing the rays to the proper course and wherein the headlight is of such a nature that it can be economically manufactured and installed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a headlight for a tear-drop stream-lined automobile, a housing adapted to be placed in a vehicle, said housing having a front wall conforming to the contour of the Vehicle on which it is to be placed, said front wall having an elongated aperture therein, a transparent closure for said aperture, said closure conforming to the contour of the vehicle on which the housing is to be placed, said housing including a rear wall portion and a side wall portion, a reflector in said housing, a lamp in said housing, said reiiector including reflecting surfaces disposed to direct rays from said lamp through said aperture and means to adjust said reflector relative to said closure.

RALPH R. BOSTIC. 

